Quote:
Originally Posted by jrman83
Didn't think it would take this long for my tank to cycle (today makes 17 days). My nitrite levels just don't seem to fade at all - even after a 50% water change. Noticed an increase in nitrates this morning. Checked it twice. Hopefully this will signify an eventual decrease in nitrite levels. Would like to order my fish and get them in this weekend.
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You nitrItes were probably "pegging" the test kit. So lowering of values would not yet register.
Before I started using plants, I would not add food when I added a fish especially that first fish. For a week or so. NitrItes would peg the api test kit (5ppm I think) for a couple of days then drop down to 0. After that I could add food with no spike. I just had to get through that initial spike.
Perhaps you need to stop adding the ammonia for a few days and let the nitrItes drop down. Then try the ammonia again and see if you are over the nitrIte spikes.
But then I don't use fishless cycleing so what do I know.
my .02
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fw leiden since 1979, fo salt since 1979, mixed reef 55g 2002-2009. Strong emphasis on the tank taking care of itself. Balanced with plant life, no water changes, tap water, no filters in FW. Only dosing calcium, alk, mag in marine reef tanks.
http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/my-...ods-26410.html
recent tanks (till 2009) 7 years- 10g FW leiden 7 yrs, 55g mixed reef 7, 2 yrs, 20g FW leiden, 10 g fw leiden , 29g mixed reef, current tank 55g leiden